QB/WR Terrelle Pryor (B1G Freshman of the Year, All B1G, B1G Champion, 2010 Rose Bowl MVP, 2011 Sugar Bowl MVP)

[WaitingforKickoff]

Pryor looked excellent for a true freshman. But I'm with jwins. There were times when he didn't see the open receiver(s), but also times when he took big sacks/losses without throwing it away. Looked great (special) for a freshman, but not yet comparable to an elite college QB as a passer.

but would you agree that sometimes even fifth year heisman trophy winners have trouble finding open receivers?

 

[NFBuck]

How would you rate his passing?

Well, to me, the biggest issue with him last night was holding onto the ball too long waiting for something to develop. A couple of those sacks made me cringe, but I quickly realized he's a 19 year old kid making his 3rd career start. I also realized something else: how often do you see a kid with his physical gifts actually trying to make a play with his arm? This kid wants to become a passing QB. He made some throws that made him look like a true frosh, but he made several more, particularly on the final drive, that made him look like so much more. This was a kid that was supposed to be "raw", and while there are improvements to be made, "raw" is not even close. He doesn't make as many ill-advised throws as you'd expect from a true frosh, the arm strength is there. He just needs to learn when it is time to tuck and run because he looks like a damn gazelle out there.

One other thing he did that I haven't felt since Troy was at his best: I felt like he was going to win that game on that final drive. He has that aura about him. He stands tall and poised in the pocket and you could just sense the confidence radiating off of him. I cannot believe he's that young...just doesn't seem possible. Unfair even. I can confidently say that I feel there is just no way this kid doesn't win at least one National Title and the Heisman before he's done in Columbus.

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

...I know there was one clear instance that he didn't find Posey open, but I thought he did a heck of a job overall in finding open receivers...

The one where he "didn't find Posey" was shown on the replay. You could see that Posey was open at first; but he wasn't nearly open as long as the announcers claimed. Posey was not his first read on the play, and by the time he saw Posey, the DB with flat responsibility on the far side of the field was trying to bait him into an interception. Terrelle knew better.

Later on, when Hartline ran that route as the 3rd read; Pryor learned from his previous mistake and hit him... with the game on the line.

...The key thing here is that he didn't force the ball down the middle of the field when no one was open. That's something that most freshman QBs struggle mightily with.

And that is something that is much harder to fix, usually. Many times you will see QBs who just never seem to get over that tendency. But we saw Terrelle learn from the "opposite mistake" (hesitation) within the course of one game. ("Opposite mistake" is in quotes because I concede that it is an over-simplification)

That isn't to say that his tentative play is over and he won't hesitate again. But it does show that if it's late in the 4th and the game is on the line, you better not show Terrelle a defense he's seen before or you are going to get "Badgered".

 

[BUCKYLE]

That isn't to say that his tentative play is over and he won't hesitate again. But it does show that if it's late in the 4th and the game is on the line, you better not show Terrelle a defense he's seen before or you are going to get "Badgered".

Ah fuck no......you've coined a new phrase, except, I'm going to use it whenever TP leads us to victory.

You've been BADGERED!

 

[jwinslow]

but would you agree that sometimes even fifth year heisman trophy winners have trouble finding open receivers?

Not remotely comparable. They were open enough, and Terrelle had time. He's just young.

Besides, even if it were comparable, that was a very mediocre outing too.

I know there was one clear instance that he didn't find Posey open, but I thought he did a heck of a job overall in finding open receivers...

He completed 13 passes. There was certainly plenty of room for improvement...

I also realized something else: how often do you see a kid with his physical gifts actually trying to make a play with his arm? This kid wants to become a passing QB.

I agree, you stated this much better than myself. A rare breed indeed.

He made some throws that made him look like a true frosh, but he made several more, particularly on the final drive, that made him look like so much more.

The one where he "didn't find Posey" was shown on the replay. You could see that Posey was open at first; but he wasn't nearly open as long as the announcers claimed

Agreed, the second half of the route would've been a risky pass. I believe that was another Mike Patrick gem.

 

[WaitingforKickoff]

Not remotely comparable. They were open enough, and Terrelle had time. He's just young.

Besides, even if it were comparable, that was a very mediocre outing too.He completed 13 passes. There was certainly plenty of room for improvement...

Just want to mention that he completed 13 passes on 19 attempts, for a 68% completion rate.

Plus Hartline had two drops imo, one of which would have gone for a TD. On the bomb to Robo, I'm not alone in feeling that Robo was bothered by his shoulder and couldn't extend his other arm. I agree that he needs to improve a lot but I disagree with the notion that his passing is only very mediocre at this point.

Ps. Pryor also threw a lazor to Small that doomed for two reasons. That's another TD that was wiped out.

 

[mross34]

Just want to mention that he completed 13 passes on 19 attempts, for a 68% completion rate.

The issue wasn't how many incompletions Pryor threw or that he wasn't completing them at a high enough clip. 13 completions just isn't a lot and to me Pryor really didn't look like he wanted to throw the ball on most plays.

 

[3074326]

Completion percentage doesn't really show much (well, it can, but completion percentage isn't really that important in a game that was centered around the running game. Completions for first downs in critical situations - which Pryor did - are more important than the percentage. But there were mistakes.)

You can make mistakes and still gain yards. Missed reads, scrambles for positive yardage, etc.

 

[Mike80]

the offensive line really stepped it up last night.

With that amount of time that TP had most of the night he wasn't having to make decisions on the fly. INstead he was mostly able to sit back for 3 or 4 or more seconds and pick and choose. Now that also worked the other way a few times when he probably should have tucked it and run, but I'll take it at least.

 

[utgrad73]

He's a link to the Michigan free board. Please note the comparisons to Vince Young at the bottom of the 5th post down. Terrelle's will have some bad days just like everyone else, but by the end of the year he could be scary good.

Scout.com: I was wrong about Pryor

Suckeyes? My UM boss likes to use that label. We'll see after November 22, who's eye's suck. I'm sure they'll be blue and yellow.

 

[jwinslow]

On the bomb to Robo, I'm not alone in feeling that Robo was bothered by his shoulder and couldn't extend his other arm.

I agree that he needs to improve a lot but I disagree with the notion that his passing is only very mediocre at this point.

I'm talking about that game specifically, not his ability overall.

 

[Mike80]

Who cares about Pryor! He is a Buckeye. We have great recruits coming in, we have a great future! Worrying about the other side looks weak and vulnerable!

Let's see what that guy says when Pryor beats them worse in his first game against them than Troy did....

 

[morbitzerker]

I'm impressed with how strong he is without having alot of time at tOSU on a weight plan or work-out routine. I know he has logged some time, but after this off-season, he should really be even stronger.

The deep ball to Saine was thrown a little short, then later in the game they go back to the deep ball to Robo, and the DB was lucky enough to keep Robo's right hand down without being called for inference, but TP's throw was much improved from the first deep ball. The touch was there, Robo was in stride, and the pass came in right over his shoulder, which, I feel if Robo had control of his other hand that is a catch. But it didn't happen, so we should concetrate on the throw.

And the last drive, it was great because he recovered mentally after some of the sacks and dropped passes from earlier. It was just TPoise.

 

[WaitingforKickoff]

The issue wasn't how many incompletions Pryor threw or that he wasn't completing them at a high enough clip. 13 completions just isn't a lot and to me Pryor really didn't look like he wanted to throw the ball on most plays.

13 isn't a lot. But the plan right out of the gun was to run the football. So when analyzing numbers, it's better to put them in context rather than looking at it from a vacuum. I agree however that Pryor was hesitant.

The last time we played at Randall Stadium in '03, Krenzel only completed 14 passes out of 26 attempts. I don't think Pryor did any worse than the senior QB.

Completion percentage doesn't really show much (well, it can, but completion percentage isn't really that important in a game that was centered around the running game. Completions for first downs in critical situations - which Pryor did - are more important than the percentage. But there were mistakes.)

You can make mistakes and still gain yards. Missed reads, scrambles for positive yardage, etc.

Great point.

I'm talking about that game specifically, not his ability overall.

I don't think the little emocon really lets me know anything except that you think my argument was stupid, an opinion which you are certainly entitled to, but really doesn't bring any meaning to the discussion. I think they taught us in grade school that the best way to make your point is to articulate your position rather than to belittle the counter party.

 

[jwinslow]

I don't think the little emocon really lets me know anything except that you think my argument was stupid, an opinion which you are certainly entitled to, but really doesn't bring any meaning to the discussion.

It represented a groan for not that again, but fine, let's go down that road.

Have you watched the play again at all, or do we need a link to it?

The last time we played at Randall Stadium in '03, Krenzel only completed 14 passes out of 26 attempts. I don't think Pryor did any worse than the senior QB.

Krenzel's passing over the course of a game was rarely good. He managed the game, and was very clutch, but that's a low barometer.

OSU did not need a great quarterback performance in that outing, they needed a tough leader, and Terrelle delivered.

13 isn't a lot. But the plan right out of gun was to run the football. So when analyzing numbers, it's better to put them in context rather than looking at it from a vacuum.

I'll be interested to see 'by the numbers' from the ozone. There were many times where Terrelle did not throw the ball and settled for a short run instead. Many of those 15 carries for 20 yds came on passing downs.